January 1st. A cold and frosty start to the new year.

 

 

 

Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long male and small female catkins of Alder (Alnus sp.) have several months before opening.

 

This morning's sunrise was streaked by contrails.

 

 

 

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were flying in and hanging out.

 

 

 

Some were exploring dried emergent plants for food.

 

 

 

Fresh ice crystals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raymond Brook at Old Colchester Road.

 

 

 

January 2nd. A brief walk at the pond near River Road in Colchester.

 

 

 

 

 

Oops. (But kinda festive.)

 

This section of the trail was resurfaced a couple of years ago - several miles east and west of this point. Crappy material, slippery when wet.

 

 

 

 

 

Scouring Rush (Equisetum hyemale).

 

 

 

January 4th. Overnight, about two inches of heavy, stick-to-your-boot-bottoms snow.

 

 

 

Something hopped across the trail. Rabbit or squirrel. Heading to the left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sky clearing.

 

The usual Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

January 6th. Just a hint of a sun pillar, a vertical column of light.

 

There was a more dramatic one yesterday as I drove towards the trail. It faded long before I got to the marsh.

 

Dawn approaching...

 

 

 

...and now the sun just peeking through the trees.

 

Sunshine just reaching the base of the trees to the northwest.